Infant&#39;s commode



19 43. R, D. OVERHOLSER 2,307,897

I INFANT s GOMMODE;

I Filed April 5,1940 I 2 Sheets-Sheet 1' v llnllllllm vfl. werkals'erJan. 12, 1943. R. D. OVERHOLSER 3 9 INFANTS COMMODE Filed April 5, 1940'z shgets sheet 2 Patented Jan. 12, 1943 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICEINFANTS COMMODE Ross D. Overholser, Cottage Grove, Oreg.

Application April 5, 1940,. Serial No. 328,133

2 Claims.

This invention relates to an improved infants commode and seeks, as oneof its principal objects, to provide a device of this character whichwill include a chair having a support for a chamber or receptacle, andmeans for rotatably mounting the support, so that a child occupying thechair may turn the chair in any direction desired without disturbing hisposition on the chair and without danger of tipping over said chair.

Another object of the invention is to provide an infants commode of suchconstruction that it may be used as a play chair when not being used asa commode.

A further object of the invention is to provide an infants commode whichwill embody bear ings, together with cooperating bearing races, so thatthe chair may be swung with the utmost facility upon the base employed.

As a further object, the invention provides an infants commode which maybe used as a high chair by simply employing a detachable tray andplacing the device on a kitchen chair.

Another object of the invention is to provide a chair of this characterwhich may be adapted for use in an automobile by simply using a strapfor preventing the child from falling out of the chair.

Another object of the invention is to provide an infants commodeemploying improved chamber supporting means.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an infants commodewhich will employ means for locking the chair against rotation when itis desired to do so.

Other objects of the invention not mentioned hereinbefore will becomeapparent during the course of the following description.

In the accompanying drawings forming a part of my application:

Figure l is a perspective view of my improved infants commode.

Figure 2 is a top plan view thereof.

Figure 3 is a vertical sectional view on the line 3-3 of Figure 2.

Figure 4 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the chamber supportsemployed.

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a modified embodiment of theinvention, the view being partly broken away.

Figure 6 is a detail side elevation showing the locking means employedwith the embodiment of Figure 5.

Referring now more particularly to the accompanying drawings, whereinsimilar reference numerals will be seen to designate like partsthroughout the various views, the numeral I indicates the base of myimproved infants commode. The base I is rectangular or any other desiredconfiguration, and is preferably formed of wood. In this connection, itshould be understood that any desired material may be employed for theconstruction of the device although wood has been specified. The baseshown in Figure 1, is square and is provided at its center with anopening 2 which is recessed from the under side of the base.

Mounted on the base I, in surounding relation to the opening 2, is abearing race 3, preferably formed of cast metal. The bearing race isprovided with a relatively thin flange 4 through which extend fasteningdevices 5. As may be clearly seen in Figure '3 and in dotted lines inFigure 2, the opening 2 is located axially of the bearing race 3.Mounted to rotate freely in the bearing race and disposed in spacedrelation about the circumference of said race, are ball bearings 6.

Associated with the base I is the seat of my improved infant's commode.The seat is indicated generally by the numeral 1 and, as heretoforestated, is preferably formed of wood. The chair 1 includes a bottom wall3, side walls 9 and IB, and a rear wall I I. The side walls are shownwith curved forward upper edges I2 so that a child will have smoothrounded surfaces upon which to rest his arms. It should be understoodthat the chair 1 and base I may be decorated to conform with thedecorations in a nursery or in any other pleasing and attractive manner.

The chair I includes a lid I3 which is of substantially rectangularcontour and extends throughout the horizontal area of the chair abovethe bottom wall 8 thereof and above the chamber supporting means to bedescribed hereinaiter. Hinge bolts I4 extend through the side walls ofthe chair near their corresponding rear end portions and serve to mountthe lid I3 for swinging movement.

I provide means for supporting a chamber or receptacle within the chair,which means includes chamber supporting members I5, preferably four innumber. The chamber supporting members are disposed diagonally withrespect to the bottom walls and cooperate to support a chamber orreceptacle, shown in dotted lines at I6. The chamber supporting membersI5 are of identical construction so that it is thought a description ofone will suffice for all. A typical chamber supporting member is shownin perspective in Figure 4 of the drawings, and is formed of flat sheetmetal or metal strap. The

supporting member is of two-piece construction and includes an invertedL-shaped bracket H which has an upper arm 18 formed with a longitudinalslot I9. The bracket I! also includes a vertical arm 23 formed withopenings 2| through which are passed fastening devices for securing thebracket ll in place on one of the side walls of the chair. Thesupporting member also includes a body member 22 which is of offsetformation. The body member includes a base portion 23 formed with alongitudinal slot 24 through which is passed a fastening device forsecuring the body member to the bottom wall 8. The body portion 22 alsoincludes an upper portion 25 which carries a headed stud 26, said headedstud passing through the slot Hi. It will now be understood that byshifting the body portions 22 of the supporting members l toward or awayfrom each other, the supporting means may be adapted for receivingchambers or receptacles of different sizes.

ltis desired to call attention to the fact that the headed studs 23 onthe upper portions 25 of the supporting members l5 at the front of thechair will provide support for the forward end of the lid I3, so thatsaid lid will be limited against further downward movement and willeffectively cover the chamber [6.

The chair 1 is pivotally mounted on the base 1 by means of a pivot bolt2'5 which extends upwardly through the opening 2 and through the centerof the bottom wall 8 of the chair. The bolt 21 is threaded at its upperend to receive a nut 28, a washer 29 being disposed between the nut andthe upper surface of the bottom Wall 8 for protecting said Wall. Aspacing sleeve 30 surrounds the bolt 27! and extends between the uppersurface of the base I and the undersurfac of the wall 8 of the chair I.A bearing race 3| is fastened to the under side of the wall 8 by meansof fastenings 32. The bearing race is located axially with respect tothe bolt 21 and cooperates with the bearings 6 in the race 3. It willnow be understood that the chair I is mounted so that it may be turnedwith the utmost case on the base I. It should also be noted that, ifdesired, the race 3| may be dispensed with and the under surface of thewall 3 provided with a circular groove to receive the bearings 6. Thisconstruction is somewhat simpler than that shown in Figure 3 and, also,somewhat cheaper to manufacture. It is thought, however, that it wouldnot be as durable in use.

Means is provided for locking the chair on the base I should it bedesired to prevent a child from spinning or otherwise rotating thechair. This locking means includes a bracket 33 which is of L-shapedconfiguration and is mounted on the rear wall I! of the chair 1 at thelower edge of said rear wall. Th bracket 33 is formed with an opening inits horizontal portion through which extends a plug 34, said plugextending into a socket 35 in the base I.

Referring now to the modification of the invention as shown in Figures 5and 6 of the drawings, the numeral 36 indicates a base preferably formedof pressed sheet metal. The base is shown as being of circular shapealthough it should be understood that said base may be of any otheroutline. The base 36 is pressed to define a bearing race 31. If desired,the bearing race may be a separate part and may be suitably secured tothe base 26. Bearings 38 are located in the bearing race and are adaptedto cooperate with the bearing race 39 carried by the lower portion ofthe body 40 of a chair 4!. The body 40 is preferably of circular shapeand is provided with a slot 42 to receive the handle of a chamber, ifnecessary. A pivot bolt 43 extends through the bottom wall 44 of thebody 40 and through the base 36 for pivotally mounting the chair 4!. Atthe upper end of the body 40 the chair is enlarged to define a seatportion 45, at the outer edge of which rises a curved back 46. Mountedon the body 40 is a bracket 41 through which extends a locking plug 48.The locking plug may be inserted through the bracket and into the base36 for locking the chair 4| against rotation when rotation thereof isnot desired.

The body 40 receives a chamber therein so that a child may sit on thechair portion 45 above the chamber. When the plug 48 is removed, thechild may rotate the chair 4| on the base 31 without danger of tippingsaid chair 'and spilling the contents of the chamber.

As shown fragmentarily at 51, the seat portion may be covered with a padso that a soft cushion for the childs buttocks will be provided.

As will be noted, the base I is relatively large with respect to thesize of the chair so that a child, occupying the chair, may engage hisfeet with the upper surface of the base and by moving his feet, rotatethe chair with respect to the base.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is:

1. In an infants commode, a chair including a bottom wall, a rear walland side walls, chamber supporting means carried by the chair andincluding supporting members on the bottom wall and side walls andcooperating with each other for defining a support for a chamber, eachof said supporting members including a base portion and a bracket, saidbase portion and bracket being relatively adjustable, said supportingmembers being adaptable for receiving chambers of Various sizes.

2. In an infants commode, a chair including a bottom wall, a rear walland side walls, chamber supporting means carried by the chair andincluding supporting members on the bottom wall and side walls andcooperating with each other for defining a support for a chamber, saidsupporting members being adjustable for receiving chambers of varioussizes, said supporting members each being of two-piece construction andincluding a body member and a bracket engaged with said body member,said body member having a slotted base portion at one end and a headedstud at the opposite end thereof, said slotted base portion beingconnected with the bottom wall, and said bracket having a slotted arm toreceive the headed stud and having a vertical arm attached to a sidewall.

ROSS D. OVERHOLSER.

